Old Testament Commentary: Numbers

The various contributors to the "Old Testament Scaffolding Commentary" series are unanimous in their conviction that God communicates through the word articulated by Him, and that there is nothing as indispensable for the life, health, and growth of believers as listening attentively to what the Spirit has to say to them through a Word that, although ancient, never ceases to be valid and current.

If there were a contest for the "favorite book of the Bible," Numbers would certainly not be at the top. It is often thought that Numbers has an outdated message for today's needs, as its content seems to have nothing to do with a society like ours. We live in a world infinitely different from that of the time it was written, moving at full speed with incredible technology, accessible facilities, and unlimited resources. How does the story of an Israelite migration affect our lives as 21st-century Christians?

Numbers tells the story of a forgotten past, narrates a present in which God guides, and moreover, reiterates the promise of a secure future. The future land is the pilgrim's goal; everything in the book moves towards that end, however slowly. God has promised them the land and never breaks His promises; this is what His people cling to in the darkest days, and we, likewise, cling to this. The message of Numbers remains relevant today because it speaks to us of the need to be loved, secure, free, and clean, and this is essential for the ideal of human life.

How we begin, travel, and arrive is the unique story of the Scriptures, and Numbers plays a significant role in presenting this story within a specific historical context. Like Paul's readers in Corinth, we too have much to learn from this story about Israel's past.